Alex B Kurbis - never had a chance, mind. EP

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 01 Dec 2023

Tracklist:

1. Onion Heart

2. Pedestrian Roulette

3. Something Nice

4. Plancton/Commute

Completely unexpectedly, a new EP was released by Swiss indie/emo/punk band Alex B Kurbis on December 1st. Considering the band's debut full-length Mondays And Tuesdays was only released in June, this shows incredible productivity (or just plenty of songs left over. Who knows!). Alex B Kurbis appeared on my radar earlier this year and I really didn't expect new music so soon. Guess I shouldn't have expectations. then they can always be smashed for the better!

There are just four songs on this EP but then again good things come in small packages. Opener ‘Onion Heart’ beats to the tune of old-school punk once again. The melodic, minimalist type that gets toes tapping and hips shaking. Happy and upbeat. We all need a bit of that.

There’s a tinge of folk on ‘Pedestrian Roulette’, which isn’t out of place during the gentle first half of the song. The second half is louder, complete with added vocal layers, distorted guitars and a great sense of rowdiness.

Nothing needs to last too long and Alex B Kurbis know that. ‘Something Nice’ brims with constant rhythm from the drums that holds everything else together. The rest of the instrumentation and vocals keep pace as if they were hitching a ride by grabbing the rear bumper of a fast moving vehicle. 

EP closer ‘Plancton/Commute’ is the outlier here as it contains more of an art-punk vibe, which isn’t anything new to the band. It works majestically in this song. Helping to expand on what’s already been. As the choir of voices ring out towards the end it reminds me of a family or a group of friends singing together in happy times, even if the feedback at the end tears that vision.

Another really enjoyable release from Alex B Kurbis, who seem to be settling nicely into a sound that’s warming and soothing. There’s a lot of soul here. Embrace it.

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally below:-

Alex B Kurbis - https://www.facebook.com/alexbkurbis

Alex B Kurbis - Mondays And Tuesdays

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 12 Jun 2023

Tracklist:

1. While Not In Paris

2. In And Out Of Moment And Focus

3. Bargain Hunting

4. Topical Kinda

5. Lesson 3

6. Aurora Babsealis

7. While Not In Manchester

8. Crowbar Handy

9. Mondays And Tuesdays

10. Finders Keepers

11. Beehive

I've been trying in vain to find out who Alex B Kurbis is. I thought they might have been a historical figure that could have added a bit of weight to this opening paragraph. Lack of educational facts aside, Alex B Kurbis (the band) only recently came to my attention. The band is based in Switzerland and is about to embark on a UK run of shows later this week! Mondays And Tuesdays is the band's debut album and was released last month. An amalgamation of punk, indie, emo and more.

Opening with a song that has the most apt title (if you’re up on current events), ‘While Not In Paris’  is less chaos and more sweet melody, wrapped up in a slice of mid-paced indiemo/punk. A glorious sing-along if ever there was one. ’In And Out Of Moment And Focus’ brims with understated post-punk alongside it’s more upbeat moments. The production/mixing/mastering for what is essentially a DIY solo-recorded album is brilliant. It was mastered by Joe Caithness (who has also worked with Doe, Human Hands, Renounced amongst many others). If you’re a fan of UK emo/post-hardcore and computer game soundtracks, you’ll know how good his work is.

I’ve forgotten how much fun it is just to listen to a band like Alex B Kurbis to be honest, as I tend to have my ears buried deep in much heavier bands but ‘Bargain Hunting’ is the feel-good hit this summer needs even if it’s not blaring out from festival stages (which it should be!). Mondays And Tuesdays is an intricately written album when you delve deeper into it, as no song sounds the same. ‘Topical Kinda’ is darker than it first seems, taking subtle cues from The Cure and Franz Ferdinand. My sphere of reference when it comes to similar bands is limited but comparisons aside, I like it a lot.

The riffs jump out on ‘Lesson 3” with a whole heap of upbeat melody and joyous colour. Colour that’s magnified by the vocals and all-round song-writing. The percussion gives off so many pop-punk vibes without being cheesy (though maybe it’s only me that can hear Lit in this song!). More intricate musicianship fills the relatively short ‘Aurora Babsealis’. It’s hooks are subtle but they still make it memorable. For an album that features eleven songs it goes by way too quickly, especially when you cross over the midway point here.

‘While Not In Manchester’ isn’t an ode to Britpop. Instead, it weaves a vitriolic and celebratory collage of sound that’s way more engrossing than it first appears. Noise (in the scuzzy rock sense) isn’t really a thing on Mondays And Tuesdays, but if it was then the intro to ‘Crowbar Handy’ would be as close as it gets. It gives way very quickly to reveal more warming punk. The album’s title-track ‘Mondays And Tuesdays’ acts like an interlude but It’s perfectly placed to lead you into penultimate song ‘Finders Keepers’. By now, you’ll know what to expect from Alex B Kurbis and if you’re not on board with it then you’ve got no soul.

Final song ‘Beehive’ closes things out with a bleary eyed nostalgia that’s rooted in the UK music scene of old, with it’s anthemic melodies and sensitive instrumentation. It’s been a breath of fresh air listening to this record this evening and I’m feeling way more positive because of it. Props to Alex B Kurbis for writing such an enjoyable album.

You can stream and purchase Mondays And Tuesdays as a name-your-price download below:-

The flyer for the band's imminent UK tour is below, where CD and Tape copies will be available:-

Alex B Kurbis - https://www.facebook.com/alexbkurbis